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JOTTINGS  OF  LOUISIANA 


ILLUSTRATED  HISTORICAL   SKETCH 

OF  THE 

MOST  ILLUvSTRIOUS   LANDMARKS 

OF 

NEW  ORLEANS, 

And  the  Only  Remaining  Buildings  of  Colonial  Days. 


"They  do  not  only  form   part  of  the  History  of  the 
rnitcd   States,  l)ut   also    of    Frame   an«l  Spain." 


BY 

WILLIS  J.    ROUSSEL 

New  Orleans,  I.a. 
(t'opyriKhlcd  .laiuiary  3rd,  190-5.) 


Price,  5U  Cents. 
1905. 


Mendola  Bros.  Publishers, 
new  orleans,  la. 


POETICAL  JOTTINGS  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 

— -f -f  — 
BY  CH  ARLES  GAY  A  R  W  K 


The  following  cjuotaticns  are  taken  from  the  History  of  Louisiana 
b}  Charles  Gayarre,  the  eminent  writer  and  historian,  and  wall 
no  doubt  prove  to  be  a  very  aj^propriate  preface  to  this  work,  as 
il  will  auniit  a  basis  of  comparison  for  "Louisiana  as  it  is  to-day." 

Alter  a  masterly  and  graceful  preliminary  the  learned  historian 
said : 

"I  am  willing  to  apply  that  criterion  to  Louisiana,  considered 
both  physically  and  historically;  I  am  willing  that  my  native 
State,  which  is  but  a  fragrant  of  what  Louisiana  formerly  was, 
should  stand  and  fall  by  that  test,  and  do  not  fear  to  a])))roach 
with  her  the  seat  of  juilgment.  1  am  prepared  to  show  that  her 
history  is  full  of  poetry  of  the  highest  order,  and  of  the  most  varied 
nature.  I  have  studied  the  subject  "con  amore,"  and  with  such 
reverential  enthusiasm,  and  I  may  say  with  such  filial  piety,  that 
it  has  grown  upon  my  heart  as  well  as  upon  my  mind.  To  support 
the  assertion  that  the  history  of  Louisiana  is  eminently  poetical, 
it  will  be  sufficient  to  give  you  short  graphical  descriptions  of  those 
interesting  events  which  constitute  the  annals.  Bright  gems 
they  are,  enriching  her  l)row.  diadem-like,  antl  worthy  of  that  star 
which  has  sprung  from  her  forehead  to  enrich  the  American  con- 
stellation in  the  firmament  of  Liberty." 

HERNANDO   De  SOTO. 

"On  the  olst.  of  May.  L539.  the  Bay  of  Santa  Spiritu,  j)resented 
a  curious  si)ectacle.  Eleven  vessels  of  quaint  shape  bearing  the 
broad  l)anner  of  Spain,  were  moored  close  to  the  shore;  one 
thousand  men  of  infantry  and  three  hundretl  and  fifty  men  ol 
cavalry,  fully  equipped,  were  landing  in  proud  array  under  the 
conmiand  of  Hernando  De  Soto,  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
companions  of  Pizarro  in  the  concpiest  of  Peru,  and  reported  one 
of  the  best  lancers  of  Spain.'' 

"Among  his  followers  are  gentlemen  of  the  best  blood  of  Spain 
and  of  Portugal." 

"Now  he  is  encamped  in  the  territory  of  tlie  Chickesaws, the 
most  ferocious  of  the  liuhan  tribes.  And  lucky  was  it  that  De 
Soto  was  as  prudent  as  he  was  brave,  and  slept  equally  i)re))ared 
for   the   defence   an<l    for   the  attack.       Hark!  in   the   dead   of    a 


Winter's  night,  when  the  cold  wind  of  the  North,  in  the  month  of 
January,  1541,  was  howHng  through  the  leafless  trees,  a  simul- 
taneous howl  was  heard,  more  hideous  far  than  the  voice  of  the 
tempest.  The  Indians  rushed  impetuously  with  firebrands,  and 
the  thatched  roofs  which  sheltered  the  Spaniards  are  soon  on  fire, 
threatening  them  with  immediate  destruction.  The  horses  rear- 
ing and  i)lunging  in  wild  affright,  and  breaking  loose  their  liga- 
ments, the  undaunted  Spaniards,  half  naked,  struggling  against 
the  devouring  element  and  the  uns])aring  foe;  the  deep-toned 
shouts  of  "St.  Jago  and  Spain"  to  the  rescue;  the  demon-like 
shrieks  of  the  red  warriors;  the  final  overthrow  of  the  Indit.ns. 
the  hot  pursuit  by  the  light  of  the  flaming  village,  form  a  picture 
highly  exciting  to  the  imagination;  and  cold,  indeed,  must  be  he 
who  does  not  take  dehght  in  the  strange  contrast  of  the  heroic 
warfare  of  chivalry  on  one  side,  and  of  the  untutored  courage  of 
myn  in  his  savage  state  on  the  other." 

"It  would  be  too  long  to  follow  DeSoto  in  his  peregrinations 
during  two  years  through  part  of  Alabama,  Mississippi  and 
Tennessee.  At  last  he  stands  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi, 
near  the  spot  where  now  flourishes  the  Egyptian  named  city  of 
Memphis.  He  crosses  the  mighty  river,  and  onward  he  goes,  up 
to  the  White  River,  while  roaming  over  the  territory  of  Arkansas. 
Meeting  with  alternate  hospitality  and  hostihty  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians,  he  arrives  at  the  mouth  of  Red  River,  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  State  of  Louisiana.  There  he  was  fated  to  close  his 
adventurous  career." 

FATHER     MARQUETTE     AND     JOLIET. 

"One  hundred  and  thirty  years  had  passed  away  since  the 
apparition  of  DeSoto  on  the  soil  of  Louisiana, without  any  further 
attempt  of  the  white  race  to  penetrate  into  the  fair  region,  when, 
on  the  7th.  of  July,  1673.  a  small  band  of  Europeans  and  Canadians 
reached  the  Mississippi,  which  they  had  come  to  seek  from  the 
distant  city  of  Quebec.  That  band  had  two  leaders,  Father 
Marquette,  a  monk,  and  Joliet,  a  merchant,  the  prototype  of  two 
great  sources  of  power,  religion  and  commerce, which, in  the  course 
of  time,  were  destined  to  exercise  such  influence  on  the  civilization 
of  the  Western  territory,  traversed  by  the  mighty  river  which 
they  had  discovered.  That  humble  monkish  gown  of  Father 
Marquette  concealed  a  hero's  heart,  and  in  the  merchant's  breast 
there  dwelt  a  soul  that  would  have  disgraced  no  belted  knight. 

ROBERT  CAVALIER  De  La  SALLE. 

"Seven  years  since  the  expedition  of  Marquette  and  Joliet  had 
rolled  bv  when  Robert  Cavalier  de  La  Salle,  in  the  month  of 


January.  1682.  feasted  his  eyes  \vith  tlie  far  famed  Mississippi. 
For  his  companions  he  had  forty  soldiers  three  monks,  and  the 
ChevaHer  de  Tonti." 

"Brought  into  contact  with  Count  Fontenac,  who  was  the 
Governor  of  Canada,  he  communicated  to  him  his  views  and 
projects  for  the  aggrancUzement  of  France,  and  suggested  to  him 
the  gigantic  phm  of  connecting  the  St.  Lawrence  with  the  .Missis- 
sipppi  by  an  uninterrupted  chain  of  Forts." 

"On  the  loth  of  September.  1678.  proud  and  erect  with  the 
consciousness  of  success.  La  Salle  stood  again  in  the  walls  of 
Quebec,  and  stimulated  by  the  cheers  of  the  whole  jjopulation. 
he  immediately  entered  into  the  execution  of  his  ))rojects.  Four 
years  after.  1682.  he  was  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in 
the  name,  (as  apjiears  by  a  Notarial  Act  still  extant)  of  the  'most 
puissant,  most  high,  most  invincible  and  victorious  Prince,  Louis 
the  Great.  King  of  France,  took  jwssession  of  all  the  country 
which  he  had  discovered." 

"To  relate  all  of  the  heart  thrilling  adventures  which  occurred 
to  La  Salle  during  the  four  years  which  elapsetl  .between  the 
oj:)ening  and  conclusion  of  that  expedition,  would  be  to  go  beyond 
the  limits  which  are  allotted  to  me.  Sufhce  it  to  say.  that  at  this 
day.  to  overcome  the  one-hundredth  jiart  of  the  difficulties  which 
he  had  to  encounter,  would  immortalize  a  man." 
IBERVILLE  A\D  BIENVILLE. 

"A  few  years  after  tlie  death  of  La  Salle,  which  occurrta  iii 
1687,  by  the  hands  of  brutal  com]nuiions.  within  the  limits  of 
Texas,  a  French  Ship  of  42  guns,  the  Pelican,  conmuuuled  by 
Iberville,  after  sinking  an  English  vessel  of  52  guns  in  a  naval 
battle,  on  the  coa.st  of  New  England,  and  whipping  two  other 
vessels  of  42  guns  each  in  the  same  fight,  in  the  begimiing  of  .March, 
1699.  entered  the  Mississippi,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  Bien- 
ville, and  Father  Anastase.  the  former  companion  of  La  Salle 
in  his  expedition  down  the  river  in  1(582. " 

"In  1703  war  iiad  broken  out  l)etween  Great  Britain.  France 
and  Spain,  and  Iberville,  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  French 
Navy,  was  engaged  in  exjieditions  that  kept  him  away  from  the 
colony.  It  did  not  cease,  however,  to  occui)y  his  thoughts,  and 
had  become  clothed,  in  his  eye.  with  a  sort  of  family  interest. 
Louisiana  was  then  left  for  some  time  to  her  scanty  resources; 
but.  weak  as  she  was.  she  gave  early  proofs  of  that  generou.s  spirit 
which  has  since  animated  her." 


■'  Iberville  sent  hisbrother.  Chateaf^ue  to  the  colony,  aceompanieil 
l)y  seventeen  persons,  as  immitjrants  to  the  new  colony." 

"The  excitement  of  this  new  arrival  had  hardly  subsided  when 
it  was  revived  by  the  apj^earance  of  another  shij),  and  it  became 
intense  when  the  inhabitants  saw  a  procession  of  twenty  females, 
with  veiled  faces,  proceeding;  arm  in  arm.  and  two  by  two,  to  the 
house  of  the  o;overnor,  who  received  them  in  State  and  j^rovided 
them  with  suitable^  lodo;in{j;s.  Hut  the  next  mornintr.  v.liich  was 
Sunday,  the  mystery  was  cleared  u|)  by  the  officiatiiifi  piiost  read- 
in<i  from  the  i)iUj)it  of  the  mass  the  followiiijr  connuunication  from 
the  Minister  Bienville : 

"His  Majesty  sends  twenty  girl>.  to  be  marricil  to  the  Canadians, 
and  to  the  other  inhabitants  of  Mobile,  in  order  to  consolidate  the 
colony.  All  the.se  f!;irls  are  industrious,  and  have  received  a  pious 
and  virtuous  education.  J-5eneficial  results  to  the  colony  are  ex- 
pected from  their  teaching;  their  useful  attainments  to  the  Indian 
females.  In  order  that  none  be  sent  except  tho.se  of  known 
virtue  and  unspotted  reputation.  His  .Majesty  dirl  intrust  the 
F/ishot)  of  (Quebec  with  the  mission  of  taking  those  girls  from  such 
establishments,  as  from  their  very  nature  and  character,  would 
put  them  above  all  suspicions  of  corrujition.  You  will  take  care 
to  settle  them  in  life  as  well  as  may  be  in  your  power,  and  to  marry 
them  to  such  men  as  are  capable  of  providing  them  with  a  commo- 
dious home." 

:■;     :;;;•;    ^     ^     •:,:     -^^     if.    'Jf.     if 

CONDENSED  ITEMS  OF  INTEREST  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY. 

Samolle  was  the  first  Clovernor  of  Louisiana.  He  die(l  in  1701. 
and  was  succeeded  by  Bienville,  the  second  (iovernor. 

Iberville  went  to  France  in  1701.  and  remained  al)S("nt  from 
Louisiana  four  years. 

Thirty-five  colonists  diecl  of  star\atif)n  in  1705. 

In  1700.  the  French  girls  brought  tf)  the  colony  were  indignant 
at  being  fed  on  corn  bread,  and  threatened  to  leave  the  colony 
on  the  first  opportunity.  This  is  called  the  "petticoat  insurrec- 
tion." 

The  three  most  imi)ortant  personages  in  tlic  ('otiiuioiiwcalth  of 
Louisiana  at  that  time  were  Bienville,  the  governor,  who  wielded 
the  sword,  and  was  the  great  executive  mover  of  all;  La  Salle,  the 
intendant  commissary  of  the  crown,  who  had.  therefore,  might  be 
called  the  controlling  power;  and  the  Curate  de  la  \'ente.  who 
was  not  satisfied  with  mere  spiritual  influence.  The  commi^sary 
iii  a  letter  of  the  7th  o''  Decmber.  1706,  accusetl  Iberville,  Bien- 
ville and  Chateague.  the  three  brothers,  of  being  guilty  of  every 
sort  of  malfeasances  and  dela])idations.  The  curate  hackerl  La^ 
Salle. 

6 


After  an  existance  of  nine  years;  the  population  of  the  cokjuy 
did  not  exceed  279  persons.  Its  principal  wealth  consisted  in 
50  cows,  40  calves,  4  l^ulls.  8  oxen,  1400  hogs  and  200  hens. 

In  1709  famine  re-a]jpeared  in  the  colony,  and  tlif»  iidiabitants 
were  reduced  to  live  on  acorns. 

The  scarcity  of  provisions  had  l)ecome  such,  that  in  1710. 
Bienville  informeil  his  government  that  he  had  scattered  the 
greatest  nart  of  his  men  aaiong  the  Indians,  upon  whom  he  had 
quartered  them  for  food. 

In  1712,  Anthony  Crozat  obtained  from  the  King  of  France  the 
exclusive  jn-ivilege.  for  fifteen  years,  of  trading  in  all  that  immense 
territory  which,  with  its  undefined  limits,  France  claimed  as  her 
own  under  the  name  of  Louisiana.  The  charter  of  concessions 
virtually  matle  Crozat  the  Suju'eme  Lord  and  blaster  of  Louisiana. 

In  17LS  Cadillac  is  made  governor  of  Louisiana. 

The  famous  banking  company  of  the  Indies,  with  John  Law 
at  its  head,  was  started  in  1717.  .John  Law  was  born  in  Edin- 
burgh. Scotland,  in  1671. 

Bienville  was  ap])ointed  governor  of  Louisiana,  the  second  time, 
in  1718,  and  foimded  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  the  same  year. 

In  1724  the  white  population  of  New  Orleans  amounted  to  1700 
souls,  and  the  black  population  to  3300.  In  Xew  Orleans,  there 
were  about  lOOO  souls  including  ti'oops,  and  the  jK'rsons  employed 
by  the  government. 

In  the  beginning  of  1727.  the  spot  where  now  stands  Xew 
Orleans,  not  being  protected  by  a  levee,  was  subject  to  annual 
inundation,  and  presented  no  l">etter  aspect  than  that  of  a  vast 
sink  or  sewer. 

Mosipiitoes  buzzed,  and  ent)rmous  frogs  croaked  incessantly  in 
concert  with  other  indescribable  sounds;  tall  reeds,  and  grass 
of  every  variety  gn^w  in  the  street,  and  in  the  yards,  so  as  to 
interrupt  cominunication.  and  offered  a  safe  retreat,  and  places 
of  concealment  to  venomous  reptiles,  wild  beasts,  and  malefactors. 
who.  prot(H'ted  by  these  impenetral)le  jungles,  committed  with 
imj)unity  all  sorts  of  e^•il  deeds. 

In  1729  the  French  at  Xatch(>z  were  massacred  by  \hc  ln(hans. 
The  Indians  captured  and  spared  about  300  women  and  children 
whom  they  intended  to  make  slaves  of. 

In  1733  the  French  Colony  in  Louisiana  was  scourged  by  snudl 
pox  and  famine.  .\  companion  of  F.ienxiUe  wrote:  "Our  planters 
and  nuM'hanics  are  dying  of  hunger.  The  colony  is  on  the  eve  of 
being  depopulated.  The  colony  is  in  such  a  stat(>  of  indigence 
that,  last  year,  the  people  were  obliged,  for  more  than  three 
months,  to  ViYv  on  the  seeds  and  grains  of  ree(ls." 


On  the  lotli.  of  Api-il.  17.v").  I^icinilk"  wrote  on  tlie  state  of  the 
colony : 

"One  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco  are  made  at  Pointe 
Coupee;  two  women  raise  silk  worms  for  amusement  and  succeed 
very  Avell;  eggs  should  be  sent  by  the  government  to  the  Ursulines, 
who  would  teach  this  industry  to  the  orphans  whose  education 
is  entrusted  to  them.  The  cultivation  of  cotton  is  advantageous, 
but  the  planters  experience  great  difficulty  in  cleaning  it  from 
the  seeds.     Pitch  and  tar  are  made  in  some  abundance." 

In  1736  the  colony  turned  its  attention  to  the  cultivation  of 
indigo.  But  little  was  made  from  silk  through  ignorance  of  the 
business. 

The  Balize  Pass,  in  1728,  had  sixteen  feet  and  a  half,  and  which 
Bienville  represents  as  filling  up  rapidly,  is  known  in  our  days  as 
Southeast  Pass. 

The  Marcjuis  de  \'audreuil  was  api)ointed  governor  of  Louisiana 
in  place  of  Bienville,  in  1743. 

De  VaudreuiL  in  1744,  commanded  the  ])lanters  to  have  their 
levee  made  under  penalty  of  forfeiting  their  lands  to  the  crown. 

The  Mar(}uis  de  N'audreuil  marked  the  l)egiiining  of  his  admin- 
istration by  following  the  old  and  nefarious  custom  of  granting 
monopolies. 

In  1744  the  white  population  of  New  Orleans  was  800  souls, 
not  including  500  soldiers,  and  the  women  and  children.  A  few 
^f  the  houses  were  brick,  and  the  greater  portion  were  wooden 
Iiuildings,  or  were  bricked  up  between  posts.  There  were  25 
inhabitants  whose  property  were  worth  from  one  hundred  thous- 
and to  three  hundred  thousand  livres.  Almost  all  the  colonists 
were  married.  The  most  considerable  one  of  them  was  Mr. 
Dubreuil,  who  owned  500  negroes,  several  plantations,  l)rick- 
kilns  and  silk  factories.  At  the  German  coast,  there  were  100 
white  inhabitants,  and  200  negroes.  Occupations,  gardening  and 
grazing.  Pointe  Coupee,  200  whites  and  400  negroes.  Occupa- 
tion, the  cultivation  of  tobacco  and  the  raising  of  provisions. 
Natchitoches,  60  whites  and  200  ])lacks.  Productions,  cattle,  rice, 
corn  and  tobacco. 

The  available  force  for  defending  Louisiana  in  1746  was  400 
white  men,  500  to  600  Indians,  and  from  200  to  300  negroes. 

A  terrible  hurricane  in  1746,  like  that  of  1740,  destroyed  the 
crops  of  the  colony,  and  would  have  reduced  the  inhabitants 
nearly  to  starvation  had  it  not  been  for  the  boats  from  Illinois 
that  annually  supphed  them  with  Flour. 

8 


In  1751  the  Jesuits  sent  some  sugar-canes  from  Hispaniola  to 
the  Jesuits  of  Louisiana,  and  some  negroes  who  were  used  to  the 
cultivation  of  this  plant.  The  experiment  was  abortive,  and 
though  cane  continued  to  be  cultivated  successfully,  it  was  only 
in  1795  that  the  manufacture  of  sugar  was  successful. 

On  boartl  the  same  ships  which  brought  the  first  sugar-cane, 
sixty  girls  were  transported  to  Louisiana  at  the  expense  of  the 
King.  The  girls  were  married  to  such  soldiers  as  had  distinguished 
themselves  for  good  conduct,  and  who,  in  consideration  of  their 
marriage,  were  discharged  from  service.  Such  is  the  humble 
origin  of  many  of  our  most  respectable  and  wealthy  families. 

On  the  23rd.  of  September,  1752,  the  Intendant  Commissary, 
JMichael  de  la  Roubillere,  made  a  favorable  report  on  the  state 
of  agriculture  in  Louisiana.  "The  Cultivation  of  the  wax-tree," 
says  he,  "has  succeeded  admirably.  Mr.  Dubreuil  alone  has  made 
six  thousand  pounds  of  wax.  Some  went  to  the  seashore  where 
the  wax  tree  grows  wild,  in  order  to  use  it  in  its  natural  state. 
It  is  the  only  luminary  used  here  by  the  inhabitants,  and  it  is 
exported  to  other  parts  of  America,  and  to  France.  In  the  last 
three  years  forty  five  brick  houses  were  erected  in  New  Orleans 
and  several  fine  new  plantations  were  established." 

In  1753  Kerlerec  took  possession  of  the  government  of  Louisiana. 

In  1755  the  Acadian  settlement  at  Grand  Pre,  Nova  Scotia,  was 
broken  up  by  the  English,  under  command  of  General  Winslow, 
and  the  inhabitants,  1923  persons  were  taken  prisoners,  and  most 
of  them  transported  to  different  states.  Their  houses  and  barns 
were  burned  by  the  English, and  their  property  confiscated  to 
the  crown. 

On  \hv  3r(l.  of  November,  1762,  Louisiana  was  ceded  to  Spain. 

In  17()5.  there  was  a  considerable  immigration  to  Louisiana 
from  the  Alabamons  and  Illinois  districts,  which  had  been  ceded 
to  the  I^nglish,  antl  from  the  province  of  Acadia  and  Nova  Scotia. 
About  650  Acadians  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  and  they  were 
sent  to  form  settlements  in  Attakapas  and  Opclousas,  under  the 
command  of  Andry. 

riloa,  the  new  Spanish  Governor,  arrived  in  New  Orleans  on  the 
5th.  of  March,  1766,  and  in  Fel)ruary  of  the  same  year  216  Aca- 
dians arrived. 

riloa  at  once  ordered  the  census  of  the  whole  population  of 
Louisiana  to  be  taken,  and  tiie  result  was  found  to  l)e:  1,893  men 
able  to  carry  arms;  L944  women,  married  or  unmarried;  1,240 
female  children;  1,375  male  children;  total  6,452.  The  blacks 
were  about  as  numerous  as  the  whites.  But  the  poi)ulation  was 
somewhat  reduced  by  an  epidemic  closely  resembling  yellow  fever. 


A  conspiracy  was  formed  against  the  Spanish  Govornment  of 
Louisiana  in  1768  and  a  general  insurrection  followed. 

O'Reilly's  administration  under  Sjianish  domination,  contiiuied 
orte  vear  to  1769.  I'nzaga's  administration  from  1770  to  1776; 
Galvez's  1777  to  1784;  Miro's  1785  to  1789;  Carondelet's,  1789  to 
1792;  Gavoso's,  1793  to  1797;  Ca.sacalvo's.  1798  to  1799,  Salcedo's, 
1801  to  i803. 

A  century  has  now  glided  over  the  ocean  of  time,  since  Louisiana 
was  tran.sferred  to  the  United  States,  and  the  American  flag  was 
first  unfurled  before  the  large  assembly  of  people  which  had 
congregated  at  the  Place  D'Armes,  (Jackson  Square)  on  the  20th. 
of  December.  1803. 

The  Treaty  with  France  was  consummated  by  Robert  R. 
Li\dngston  and  James  Monroe,  representing  the  United  States, 
upon  the  30th.  of  April,  1803.  when  the  entire  Louisiana  possessions 
became  the  ))ropertv  of  the  United  States,  for  the  modest  sum  of 
$15,000,000.00. 


^S^ 


10 


THE   ST.    LOUIS   CATHEDRAL. 

Xamecl  in  honor  of  Louis  XI\',  King  of  France.  A  brick  and 
adobe  structure  was  erected  upon  the  space  of  ground  reserved 
by  Jean  Baptiste  Lemoyne  de  Bienville,  the  founder  of  Xew 
Orleans  and  governor  of  the  French  Colony,  for  the  erection  of  a 
Roman  Catholic  Church  of  which  in  1721  there  remained  but  a 
shed — in  1723,  a  wooden  church,  which  was  replaced  by  a  brick 
structure,  in  1725 — in  1793  a  handsome  Cathedral  was  built 
which  still  remains  up  to  the  present  day.  The  latter  edifice  was 
the  gift  of  the  great  ])hilanthropist,  Don  Andres  Almonaster  y 
Roxas. 

This  brief  statement  covers  a  period  of  over  75  years  and  illus- 
trates the  several  periods  of  construction,  destruction  and  recon- 
struction of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  now  known  as  the  8t. 
Louis  Pathedral.  which  has  been  a  silent  witness  of  countless 
calamities,  ages  of  famines,  pestilence,  fire  and  flood  experienced 
l)y  the  colonists  until  the  present  da}'.  And  its  chimes  nestling 
in  the  lofty  steeples  of  brick  and  stucco,  have  never  ceased  to  sing 
out  in  sweet  metallic  tones  the  victories  gained  by  the  christian 
colonists  of  the  old  colonial  days. 

The  site  where  stands  the  present  edifice  was  consecrated  to  the 
service  of  God  nearly  two  centuries  ago.  Upon  this  space 
numerous  churches  have  succeeded  one  another.  The  first  struc- 
ture was  in  1723  destroyed  by  a  hurricane,  the  second  was  entirely 
consumed  by  a  conflagration  in  1788  which  almost  comj)letely 
devastated  the  city.  This  entire  edifice  was  destroyed  with 
numerous  valuable  records.  The  last  structure  which  is  the  St. 
Louis  Cathedral  of  to-dav  was  begun  in  1792  and  completed  in 
1 794. 

How  much  historical  importance  can  be  attacluMl  to  this  solemn 
edifice  which  has  witnessed  the  lapse  of  ages  since  its  construction, 
up  to  the  present  time,  the  reader  can  naturally  conceive. 

Don  Andres  AlmonasttM-  y  Roxas  who  was  the  founder  of  the 
St.  Louis  Cathedral,  whicli  he  had  erected  at  his  own  expense, 
was  an  Andalusian  of  noble  t)ii-th.  who  came  to  Louisiana  when  it 
was  under  the  Si)anish  liule.  He  filled  many  imjiortant  pul)lic 
positions.  He  succeeded  by  judicious  ventures  in  ama.ssing  a 
very  large  fortune*,  of  which  he  made  very  liberal  u.se;  for  besides 
the  St.  Louis  Cathedral  he  also  caused  the  erection  of  a  Charity 
Hospital  then  located  in  Rampart  Avenue,  and  the  buildings  on 
each  side  of  the  Cathedral,  one  being  known  as  the  Cabildo, 
now  the  Su|)reme  Court  of  Louisiana,  and  the  other  the  Presbytery 
of  the  Catliedral,  now  the  Civil  District  Courts.  He  also  had 
constructcij  th(>  Chapel  of  Lazarists  and  th(>  Frsulines  Conv(>nt. 

11 


Don  Almonaster  y  Roxas  was  married  in  1787  to  Miss  Louise 
de  Laronde,  daughter  of  Pierre  Denis  Delaronde,  from  which 
vmion  was  ])orn  on  the  6th.,  of  November,  1795  an  only  child, 
Micaela  Leonarda  Antonia,  who  married  Joseph  Xavier  Celestin 
Delfau  de  Pontall)a,  in  iSll.  and  she  became  the  Baroness  dc 
Pontallja. 

This  notable  event  which  took  place  at  the  St.  Louis  Cathedral 
was  attended  by  the  most  distinguished  personages  of  the  Colony. 
Col.  Bernard  Marigny  de  Mandeville  stood  sponsor  for  the  bride, 
and  Chevalier  de  Macarty;  Lasalle  de  St.  Avid.  Ignacio  Delmo  de 
Chalmet,  and  Mme.  De  Verges  St.  Laiu'ent.  signed  the  marriage 
records    as    witnesses. 

This  union  recalls  a  bit  of  romantic  histoiy  in  which  a  young 
Scotch-Irish  youth  was  made  to  feel  the  humble  origin  of  his 
birth. 

John  McDonogli.  whose  memory  is  revered  by  every  Orleanian, 
had  not  like  the  lovely  Micaela  Almonaster  inherited  a  title  of 
nobility  from  his  ancestors,  nevertheless,  he  loved  and  wooed  this 
charming  maiden.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and  nol)ility 
of  character  with  a  grandeur  of  heart,  and  justly  felt  that  this  was 
sufhcient  to  tleserve  the  hand  of  the  daughter  of  the  proud  Don 
Almonaster.  He  sought  the  privilege  to  ask  her  hand  in  marriage 
from  her  father,  but  the  proud  old  Spanish  nobleman  indignantly 
rejected  the  suit,  exclaiming:  "That  a  daughter  of  his  noble  race 
would  never  be  allied  to  a  poor  plel)ian  tradesman." 

McDonogh  was  stung  to  the  heart  with  grief  and  mortification, 
and  swore,  "he  would  labor  until  he  would  accunudate  more  wealth 
than  all  the  Almonasters  put  together:  and  his  name  would  live  to 
posterity  when  their  proud  titles  would  be  cast  into  oblivion." 

John  McDonogh  was  of  Scotch-Irish  Ijirth,  and  a  native  of 
Baltimore.  He  was  well  educated.  And  in  1800  he  came  to 
Xew  Orleans  where  he  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits.  At  the 
time  of  his  sentimental  aspirations  he  was  a  gay  young  man,  and 
a  favorite  in  social  circles.  He  lived  at  the  corner  of  Chartres  and 
Toulouse  streets,  where  he  was  surrounrled  by  luxuries,  and 
attended  by  a  retinue  of  slaves.  After  the  failure  of  his  suit  to 
wed  the  lovely  Micaela,  he  at  once  determined  to  change  his  mode 
of  living  and  habits.  In  his  anger  he  sold  the  contents  of  his 
magnificent  residence,  and  moved  to  a  small  house  on  his  planta- 
tion in  McDonoghville  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  where 
for  half  a  century  he  led  the  life  of  a  measley,  coldhearted  miser, 
whose  only  ambition  in  life  was  the  amassing  of  large  wealth. 
Wherever  he  passed  he  was  pointed  out  as  an  old  miser.  He  died 
in  1850,  leaving  his  entire  fortune  to  be  divided  share  and  share 
alike,  between  the  cities  of  New  Orleans  and  Baltimore.     This 


princely  legacy  whicli  has  been  exclusively  devoted  to  the  building 
and  repair  of  public  schools,  amounts  now,  with  accumulated 
interests,  to  a  fund  of  over  a  million  dollars. 

As  to  his  prophecy  it  certainly  fulfilled  his  fondest  wishes. 
Over  thirty  school  buildings  constructed  from  this  fund  are  scat- 
tered in  almost  every  district  of  the  city,  and  all  bear  the  simple 
inscription  of  his  name  "McDonogh." 

No  condition  was  attachetl  to  the  legacy,  except  that  the  little 
children  of  the  public  schools  should  come  once  a  year  and  strew 
his  grave  with  flowers.  However,  his  remains  have  been  removed 
to  his  native  city,  Baltimore,  according  to  his  desire;  but  "Mc- 
Donogh Day"  has  been  sacredly  kept  throughout  all  the  public 
schools,  where  the  children  annually  participate  in  memorial 
exercises  in  his  honor,  while  the  handsome  statue  erected  in  the 
park,  opposite  the  City  Hall,  from  the  mite  contributions  of  the 
school  children,  as  well  as  the  various  bust  statues  of  the  great 
philanthropist,  to  be  found  in  every  jnil^lic  school  are  decorated 
with  handsome  floral  offerings. 

Don  Almonaster's  titles  of  nobility  and  name  have  vanished, 
but  the  virtues  and  name  of  "^IcDonogh,"  will  live  forever. 

Don  Andres  Almonaster  y  Roxas  died  in  New  Orleans, on  the 
26.,  of  April,  1798,  at  the  age  of  73  years.  He  was  interred  within 
a  crypt,  to  the  right  of  the  Cathedral,  directly  in  front  of  the  altar 
of  St.  Anthonv.  Over  his  last  resting  place  appears  an  imposing 
marble  slab  upon  which  is  inscribed  his  Coat  of  Arms,  and  in 
Spanish  the  record  of  his  life,  titles  and  services,  which  translated 
reads  as  follows: 

HKRE  LIE  THE  REMAINS 

of 

DON  ANDRP:S  ALMONASTER  y  ROXAS. 

A  Native  of  M arena. 

In  the  Kingdom  of  Andalusia. 

He  Died  in  the  City  of  New  Orleans. 

On  the  26th.  day 'of  April,  1798. 

Being  73  years  of  age. 

A  Knight  of  the  Roval  and  Distinguished  Order  of  Carlos  III. 

Colonel  of  the  Militia  of  this  Dei)artment. 
Alderman  and  Royal  LicMitenant  of  this  Corporation. 

Founder  and  Donor  of  this  Holy  Cathedral. 
Founder  of  the  1-loyal  Hospital  of  St.  Charles  and  of  its  Clnu'ch, 

Founder  of  the  Hospital  for  Lepers. 
Founder  of  the  School  for  the  Education  of  Ciirls. 

Founder  of  the  Court  House. 
All  of  which  he  hafl  built  at  his  own  expense  in  this  Citj'. 
Requiescat    in   Pace. 
13 


To  the  left  side  of  the  church  are  also  buried  under  the  marble 
floor  before  the  altar  of  "Lady  of  Lourdes,"  three  illustrious 
Knifihts  of  the  old  repme. 

{'\)un  the  marble  slab  covering;  their  remains  is  inscribed  in 
French  the  following  epitaphs  which  translated  reads: 

FRANCOIS  PHILIPPE  de  MARIGXY  de  MANDKVILLE. 

A  Knight  of  the  Royal  and  Military  Order  of  Ht.  Louis,  and  Port 

Commandant  of  New  Orleans.   Born  at    Hayeux  in 

Normandy,   died  in   this  City.   Nov.    1.    172S. 

ANTOINF  PHILIPPE  de  MARKLW  de  .MA\DE\ILLE. 

A   Knight   of  the  Royal  and   Military  Order  of  St.    Louis,   and 

Captain  of  Infantry  in  the  service  of  France.     Porn  in 

Mobile.    February    28th..    1752.    died    in    New 

Orleans.  November  6.   1770. 

PIERRE  PHILIPPE  de  MARIGNY  de  MANDEVILLE, 
A  Knight  of  the  Royal  and  .Military  Order  of  St.  Louis.  Captain 
of  Infantry  under  the  Spanish  Government.       P>orn 
in  this  City  on  June  18.  1757.  and  died  in  IsOO. 

The  Marignys  de  Mandeville  were  very  wealthy  and  influential 
< luring  l)oth  the  French  and  Spanish  regime. 

In  the  center  aisle,  at  the  foot  of  the  stairway  leading  to  the 
main  altar  designatefl  by  a  large  cross  of  slate  colored  marlile 
slabs  imljeded  in  the  flooring:  also  beyond  the  railing  in  the  center 
of  the  sanctuary,  at  the  foot  of  the  central  altar,  are  subterranean 
vaults  in  which  have  been  buried  the  most  deserving  dignitaries 
of  the  Chiu'ch.  such  as  bishops,  archbishops,  etc.  The  last  to  be 
interred  there  was  Reverend  Archbishop  Francis  Jansens.  He 
was  buried  in  the  vault  situated  in  the  sanctuary. 

The  archives  of  the  St.  Louis  Cathedral  which  are  kept  in  a 
large  fire-proof  vault,  located  on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Rectory 
in  St.  Anthony  Alley,  also  presents  curios  in  docmiientary  specie. 
Some  of  them  are  so  old  that  they  are  crumbling  with  age.  We 
find  therein  that  the  first  marriage  performed  within  its  sacred 
walls  was  that  of  Pierre  Sinton  to  Nicole  Daulunay.  which  occurred 
on  July  1st..  1720.  and  the  first  Christening  tliat  of  Catherine 
DePerrier  on  January  1st.  1731. 

The  interior  of  the  St.  Lcuis  Catheilral  is  ornamented  with  Ijeau- 
tiful  fresco  paintings  by  the  eminent  artist  Casanova,  whose  name 
has  been  handed  down  to  posterity,  and  the  artistic  execution  has 
caused  this  work  to  be  classed  as  masteri)ieces.  which  with  the 
flight  of  time  have  been  .sacredly  preserved  up  to  this  present  day. 

14 


Some  few  figures,  however,  were  replaced  by  new  subjects  more  in 
keeping  with  the  ideas  of  the  nineteenth  century,  while  others 
were  retouched  by  the  artist  Erasme  Huml)recht.  the  colors 
having  become  faint  with  age. 

Among  the  most  interesting  pictures  ornamenting  the  walls  of 
this  edifice  is  the  tableau  just  above  the  central  altar,  representing 
"St.  Louis  announcing  the  Crusade." 

Over  the  center  of  the  main  aisle  is  "St.  Peter  receiving  the 
Shepherd's  Staff  from  Our  Lord." 

There  are  four  medallions  in  which  are  painted  the  Evangelists. 
St.  John.  St.  Mark,  St.  Luke  and  St.  Matthew,  while  between 
each  of  the  twelve  arches  are  one  of  the  Apostles,  ^^ 

Over  the  choir  appears  the  "Archangel  Michael,"  while  at  the 
other  extremity  is  pictured  "The  Holy  Family."  Over  the  sanc- 
tuary is  pictured  "The  Sacrifice  of  the  Divine  Lamb."  While 
symbolic  figures  of  the  old  and  new  testament  appear  in  the 
arched  vault. 

Another  very  impressive  pictiu'e.  is  that  over  the  altar  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  representing  "The  agony  of  Our  Lord" — while  over 
the  altar  of  "Our  Lady  of  Lourdes"  situated  upon  the  left  is  rep- 
resented the  "Annunciation."  There  the  Mrgin  and  Angel  Cnibriel, 
are  shown  in  the  most  natural  manner  and  the  expression  depicted 
upon  the  angel's  lips  seem  to  inspire  the  respectful  salutation 
"Ave  Maria,  gratia  plena.  Dominus  tecum,  etc." 

The  altar  of  "Our  Lady  of  Lourdes  is  also  a  masterpiece  of 
construction  and  coloring.  There  is  found  a  true  and  life-like 
representation  of  the  apparition  of  the  Holy  \'irgin  to  the  little 
j)easant  Bernatlette,  who  is  kneeling  upon  the  rocky  i)ath  in  rev- 
erence and  jirayer,  while  the  limjiid  waters  from  the  spring  which 
had  spontaneously  emerged  from  the  rocks  trickle  down:  and  its 
murmurings  mingle  in  unison  with  whisperings  of  the  sinners,  as 
they  kneel  in  prayer  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 

Another  very  impressive  tableau  which  confronts  the  visitor 
as  he  is  about  to  retire  is  a  painting  of  St.  Cecilia,  the  jiatron 
saint  of  Music.  She  appears  floating  upon  a  canopy  of  clouds,  and 
in  her  flight  she  is  followed  by  angels  which  are  scatteretl  around 
licr.     This  i)ainting  is  situated  right  over  the  organ. 

The  coloring  of  walls,  arches  and  colonnades  are  also  artistically 
matched,  and  the  entire  work  is  fully  deserving  the  highest  of 
jn-aise. 


15 


THE     CABILDO. 

There  is  not  a  structure  which  stands  tc)-(hxy  upon  the  American 
Continent  from  the  Pacific  Slope  to  the  Alleghenies,  and  from  the 
Athmtic  Coast  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which  offers  more  attraction 
to  the  World  at  large,  than  this  e<lifice,  variously  known  as  "The 
Cabildo,"  or  Capitol,  or  Casa  Curial. 

Its  majestic  walls  which  have  stood  the  i-avages  of  the  elements, 
during  a  period  of  more  than  a  century  appear  to-day  in  almost 
the  same  garb  with  which  it  was  adorned  when  erected,  in  1794. 

It  should  be  conceded  that  this  illustrious  structure  does  not 
simply  belong  to. our  history,  but  to  that  of  France  and  Spain, 
both  nations  being  intimately  associated  in  the  History  of  the' 
Louisiana  Colony,  for  both  countries  have  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  government  and  development  of  this  territory;  by  the 
purchase  of  which  the  United  States  of  America  gained  added 
power  with  vast  commercial  and  territorial  expansion. 

Shifting  from  the  subject,  and  gleaning  from  the  history  of  the 
Louisiana  Purchase,  we  find  that  the  region  comprised  in  the 
cessation  by  France  included  all  the  country  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, not  occupied  by  Spain,  as  far  north  as  British  Territory, 
comprising  the  whole  or  part  of  the  present  States  of  Arkan- 
sas, Colorado,  Dakota,  Iowa,  Idaho.  Kansas,  Louisiana,  Mon- 
tana, Minnesota,  Missouri,  Nebraska,  Oregon,  Washington, 
W'yoming,  Indian  Territory  and  Oklahoma  Territory. 

By  an  Act  of  Congress  dated  March  26,  1804,  the  territory  was 
divided  into  two  governments,  that  of  Orleans  including  the 
present  State  of  Louisiana  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  a  portion 
east  of  that  river, and  that  of  Louisiana  comprising  the  country 
north  and  west  of  it. 

In  April,  1812,  the  Territory  of  Orleans  was  admitted  in  the 
Union  under  the  title  of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  and  in  June,  1812 
the  Territory  till  then  known  as  Louisiana  had  its  designation 
altered  to  ^lissouri. 

W^e  also  learn  that  from  this  vast  extent  of  virgin  prairies, 
swamps  and  woodlands  west  of  the  Mississippi  arose  nurnerous 
States  and  Territories,  but  a  wilderness  then  of  the  Louisiana 
Possession,  which  to-day  has  great  commercial  and  social  impor- 
tance. Depict  to  yourself  the  marvelous  achievements  of  our 
forefathers,  who  by  the  opening  of  the  gates  to  the  great  Northwest 
developed  this  vast  territory  to  the  Pacific  Slope,  and  added  to 
the  Union  new  riches  that  lay  hidden  within  the  soil  of  these 
virgin  states.  Think  of  the  vast  resources  of  the  south  and  west, 
as  they  stand  unfolded  to  us  at  this  present  age  of  progress  and 
civilization.     The  Red  Skin  has  almost  vanished  while  his  arrows 

16 


and  tomahawks  are  entomljed.  A  more  genteel  and  civilized 
racial  order,  more  progressive  and  enlightened  now  rules,  and 
from  its  management  new  fields  of  commerce  and  industry  are 
daily  explored.  To  this  purchase  is  due  the  riches  of  our  country, 
and  the  independence  of  our  people,  which  has  caused  the  admira- 
tion and  astonishment  of  every  nation  of  the  world.  The  United 
States  of  America  of  to-day  is  no  longer  a  settlement,  Init  a 
country  commanding  the  respect  of  every  nation. 

Returning  to  the  old  historical  landmark  which  has  been  the 
main  and  silent  witness  of  the  days  of  reconstruction,  secession, 
conquest  and  reconquest,  we  find  a  massive  edifice  erected  by  the 
liberality  of  Don  Almonaster  y  Roxas.  a  Spanish  gentleman  of 
noble  birth,  who  immigrated  to  this  country  when  Louisiana 
was  under  Spanish  Rule. 

The  Cabildo  is  of  an  ancient  S])anish  architectural  style,  and  in 
a))pearance  distinct  from  any  modern  l)uikHngs.  It  stands  facing 
the  Jackson  Square,  and  is  bounded  by  Chartres.  Exchange 
Place.  Orleans  Alley  and  St.  Peter  street.  The  structure  is  of 
brick  with  stucco  finish.  Its  facade  is  ornamented  with  deep, 
low  arches  supported  by  classic  columns  and  broad  arched  win- 
dows. The  uj:)per  floors  are  reached  by  a  wintling  stairway  of 
solid  marble  leading  from  the  large  iron  front  door  up  to  a  lobby, 
from  which  entrance  is  gained  to  every  department  in  the  i)uilding. 

The  large  hall  to  the  right  of  the  lobi)y  is  now.  and  has  l)een  for 
a  number  of  years,  used  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Louisiana.  It 
is  there  where  the  Chief  Justice  and  his  four  Associate  Justices  sit 
in  final  judgment  over  the  judicial  proceedings  originating  from 
all  the  lower  courts  of  the  State.  The  hall  is  spacious  and  im- 
posing, while  its  massive  walls  are  adorned  with  oil  paintings  of 
the  great  jurists  of  this  State  that  once  presided,  but  ha\e  sub- 
mittetl  to  the  inevitable  conclusion  of  life. 

As  you  I'cach  the  head  of  the  stairway  you  face  the  entrance 
which  leads  to  the  justices'  private  consulting  room,  to  wliich  no 
one  is  granted  access,  and  where  all  decisions  after  due  deUbera- 
tions  are  reached  and  finally  agreed  ui:)on.  To  the  left  of  the 
lob])y  is  the  entrance  to  the  Clerk's  Oflice.  and  Record  Room. 
In  the  upper  floors  are  stored  old  records  covered  with  the  dust  of 
a  century.  The  lower  floor  at  the  corner  of  St.  Peter  street  is  the 
Second  City  Criminal  Court,  while  the  corner  of  Orleans  Alley 
is  a  Police  Station. 

At  the  left,  upon  tlie  other  side  of  the  Cathedral,  is  another 
structure  which  was  first  designed  as  a  Presbytery  of  the  Church; 
this  is  an  imitation  of  the  Cabildo.  it  was  liuilt  in  1813.  during  the 
.\meri('an  rule  and  is  now  called  the  Civil  District  Court  liuilding. 
In  general  ai)pearance  it  resembles  the  old  Cabildo  nearly  twenty 

17 


years  its  senior,  hut  in  workniunsliip  and  construction  is  very 
much  inferior.  The  I'ronch  mansard  roof  and  cupolas  were  added 
to  looth  buildino;s  in  ISoO.  I'pon  the  cornice  of  the  C'abildo  alsf> 
appears  the  American  Kajjle.  ornamented  with  cannon  l)alls. 
When  this  alteraticjn  was  made  there  is  no  record,  hut  it  was  un- 
douhtedly  effected  (hiring  tlie  period  f)f  American  rec(jnstruction, 
and  intended  to  rephice  onuiments  that  were  interposed  at  the 
time  of  the  Spanish  rule. 

We  find  by  referrinf;-  to  the  early  history  of  tiiis  country,  that 
the  inception  of  the  Spanisli  lulc  was  in  1762.  Carlos  III.  tlicn 
King  of  Spain,  despatched  (Jen.  Don  Alessandro  O'Reilly  with 
3600  picked  Spanish  troops,  who  took  forcible  jjossession  of 
Louisiana  then  tmder  the  French  rule.  O'Reilly  upon  his  arrixal 
abolished  the  old  Freiu-h  Suj)erior  Council  and  estal)lished  instead 
the  Sjianish  Cabildo.  The  French  Council  had  been  foundecl 
in  1712,  b\'  Louis  Xl\\  for  the  government  of  his  young  colony: 
which  had  by  this  time  grown  inde;)endent  and  powerful,  and  by 
a  desperate  attempt  at  self-government  had  made  a  bold  act  in 
resenting  the  King's  cession  of  Louisiana  to  his  Spanish  cousin. 
Ulloa,  the  first  rej)resentative  sent  over  In'  S])ain.  I'lloa  was 
ignominously  overpowered  and  returned  back  to  S])ain.  The 
six  leaders  of  this  revolt  against  the  Spanish  dynasty,  were, 
however,  promptly  executed  by  th(^  orders  of  O'Reilly, 
who  thus  began  his  reign  and  ciHhvi  the  Supci'ioi-  Council,  in 
bloodshed. 

It  was  then  tluit  O'lvcillw  who  had  by  this  act  incited  the 
hatred  of  the  people,  established  the  Cal)ildo.  It  was  presided 
over  by  the  Sjjanish  Ciovernor  of  Louisiana,  aided  by  his  excril)ano. 
or  clerk;  four  elective  officers,  two  alcades  ordinarios;  a  sindico 
])rocura<lo  general;  a  majordomo  de  j)roprios;  and  six  jierijetiuil 
regidors.  First  among  the  regidors  stood  the  Alferez  Real  or 
Royal  Standard  Hearer,  which  title  was  actpiired  by  Don  Almon- 
aster  y  Roxas,  and  which  jjosition  he  held  during  his  lifetime. 

The  Cabildo  met  e\-ery  Friday,  in  the  large  hall  now  occupied 
by  the  Sui)reme  Court.  The  Spanish  language  was  exclusively 
used  in  all  governmental  affairs,  and  it  is  not  unconnnon  when  in 
search  of  old  records,  to  find  them  written  entirely  in  the  Spanisli 
language. 

The  surroundings  of  the  Cabildo  differed  .somewhat  from  its 
present  aspect.  The  Plaza  de  Armas  was  very  much  different 
from  the  Jack.son  Square  of  to-day.  with  its  beds  of  flowers  and 
verdant  shrubberies.  Up  to  fifty  years  ago,  it  was  still  known 
as  the  Place  D'Armes,  the  original  name  given  to  it  in  1718,  when 
Xew  Orleans  was  founded  under  the  direction  of  Sieur  Jean 
Baptiste   Lemoyne  de   Bienville.      Cpon  each   side  of  the  sfpuire 

18 


were  two  rows  of  one  story  brick  buildings,  put  up  l)y  Don  AI- 
monaster  in  the  last  century.  These  buildings  were  used  as  shops 
and  retail  stores.  This  was  then  the  center  of  the  fashional)le 
quarter.  However,  in  1850,  the  Raronness  de  Pontall^a,  the  only 
child  and  heiress  of  Don  Almonaster,  had  these  shops  torn  down 
and  replaced  them  with  the  tall  Ijrick  structures  known  as  the 
Pontalba  Buildings.  The  Place  D'Arnies  was  also  modernized, 
antl  wide  walks  and  flower  beds  substituted  for  the  old  elms  which 
grew  in  abimdance.  Later  came  the  erection  of  the  statue  of 
General  Jackson,  the  hero  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  in  1815, 
which  caused  the  alteration  of  the  name  of  Place  D'Armes  to 
Jackson  Square,  and  which  name  it  bears  to-day. 

The  Cabildo  is  certainly  the  most  interesting  landmark  in  all 
the  history  and  development  of  Xew  Orleans.  It  has  witnessed 
the  dim  candle  lighted  town  gradually  succeeded  l:)y  the  street 
lamp,  while  the  lamp  lighted  streets  gave  way  to  gas  and  electric- 
ity. It  has  withstood  the  decay  of  the  first  few  factories  which 
have  been  forgotten,  ami  were  supersedetl  l:)y  the  hundreds  of 
great  factories  which  exist  to-day.  The  lieautiful  senoritas  with 
their  heads  T^rettily  dressed  with  mantillas,  and  with  their  short 
skirts,  walking  to  balls,  followed  by  slaves  bearing  their  slip[)ers. 
has  made  place  for  more  Parisian  elegance  of  dress  and  equipage. 
The  almost  nightly  duels  are  things  of  the  past,  and  also  the  roar 
of  the  evening  cannon  shot,  that  commantled  the  sailors,  soldiers 
and  tilack  slaves  to  be  indoors  for  the  night.  The  old  night 
watchman  no  longer  sing  out  the  hours  of  night  and  condition  of 
the  weather:  "Ten  o'clock  and  Cloudy."  '"Twelve  o'clock  and  the 
weather  Pair."  All  these  customs  have  vanished,  yet  this  silent 
witness  has  gazed  down  ujion  all  of  Louisiana's  changes  of  rule. 

ri)on  the  change  of  dynasty,  when  in  1803.  the  flag  of  the 
Si^aniards  was  lowered  and  that  of  Prance  replaced  once  more 
ui:)on  the  Place  D'Armes.  this  however,  but  for  a  short  duration  of 
twenty  days,  as  the  French  colors  were  sujierseded  by  those  of 
the  American  j^urchaser.  Thence  fifty  eight  years  latcM-  when 
Louisiana  swore  allegiance  to  the  flag  of  the  ConfcMleracy ;  and  her 
agony  came  when  amid  the  roar  of  cannon  and  at  the  point  of 
bayonets  the  stars  and  stripes  were  once  more  hoisted.  Again, 
it  has  witnessed  the  complete  fraternal  reconstruction  of  ti.(>  North 
and  South,  when  under  the  same  colors  they  fought  si(I(>  by  side 
to  free  the  Island  of  Cuba  from  Spanish  rule.  Within  tlu>  vast 
hall  of  the  Cabildo.  Louisiana  was  transferred  by  Spain  to  l"i-auc(\ 
;:nd  suljsecpiently  l)y  France  to  the  I'nited  Stat(^s. 

It  was  from  the  windows  of  this  edifice  that  t!;e  I'i'ench.  and 
then  the  American  rule  was  jirodaimed  to  the  as.sembl(>d  p(>ople. 
The  Ca))ildo  also  witnessed  the  ceremonials  accorded  to  .Andrew 

1'.^ 


.lackson  in  isl.").  for  his  x-ictory  over  the  British,  in  the  Place 
D'Armos,  where  he  was  crowned  with  hiurels  l^y  pretty  maidens. 
In  182f)  it  served  as  the  residence  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette, 
who  was  the  guest  of  Louisiana  during  his  tour  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  And  he  was  granted  a  reception  almost 
the  equal  of  that  of  Gen.  Jackson.  France  was  a  friendly  nation 
and  the  sale  of  Louisiana  to  the  United  States  for  80,000,000 
francs  by  Napoleon  Bonaparte  was  not  only  a  boon  to  the  Ameri- 
can people,  but  served  as  a  retaliatory  measure  of  France  towards 
England.  We,  who  are  living  to-day,  can  now  fully  appreciate 
the  value  of  the  proi)hecy  of  Bonaparte  which  has  proven  true. 

He  said,  at  the  time  of  the  transfer: 

"This  accession  of  territory  strengthens  forever  the  power  of 
"the  United  States;  and  I  have  just  given  to  England  a  maritime 
"rival  that  will  sooner  or  later  humble  her  pride*  ***** 
"The  day  may  come  when  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  United 
"States,  shall  render  the  Americans  too  powerful  for  the  continent 
of  Europe." 


20 


Jastlet  Provost) 


Interior  Hen  Supreme  Court  of  Louisiana  Showlns  tiie  File  Justices 

Chlet  Justice  Breaux  Justice  NIcliolls  Justice  Honroe 


GUBERNATORIAL  STAFF  OF  LOUISIANA. 

GOVERNORS  OF  LOUISIANA  UNDER  FRENCH  RULE. 


Marqui«  ile  Sau voile 1619-1700. 

Jean  Lemoyne  de  Bienville 1701-1712. 

Lamothe  Cadillac 1713-1715. 

I)  L'Epinay 1716-1717. 

Jean  Lemoyne  de  BieiivilL' 1718-1721 

J^oisbriant  (Ad  interim) 1724. 

Perier 1725-1731. 

Jean  Lemoyne  de  Bienville 17-32-1741. 

Marquis  de  Vautreuil 1742-1752. 

Baron  de  Kerlerec 1753-1762. 

D'Abadie 1763-176(). 


(;OVERNORS  UNDER  SPANLSH  RULE. 


Antonio  de  Ulloa 1767-1768. 

Alexander  O'Reilly. . 1768-1769. 

Luis  de  I'nzaga 1770-1776. 

Bernardo  de  Galvez 1777-1784. 

Estevan  Miro 1785-1789. 

Francisco  Luis  Horter,  Baron  de  Carondelet.  1789-1792. 

Gayoso  de  Lemos 1793-1797. 

Sebastian  y  Cassa  Calvo  v  O'rarrill 1798-1799. 

Juan  Manuel  v  de  Salcedo 1801-1803. 


GOVERNOR  OF  THE  TERRITORY  OF  ORLEANS. 

W.  C.  C.  Claiborne 1S")4-1S12. 


•:i 


GOVERNORS  OF  THE  STATE  OF  LOUISIANA. 

W  C.  C.    Claiborne 1812-1816. 

Jacques  Villoro 1816-1820. 

Thomas  Bolinji- Rul)eitsoii (Resigned),,  ....  .1820-1822. 
Henry  S.  Thibodeaux,  President  of  the 

Senate.  Actinji  Ooverncr 1822-1824. 

Henrv  Johnson 1824-1828. 

Pierre  Derbigny  (Died  in  Office) 1828-1829. 

A.  Beauvais,  President  of  the  Senate^  Acting 

Governor. 1829-1830. 

Jacques  Dnpre 1830-1831. 

Andre  Bienvenue  Roman ...  1831-1835. 

Edward  White 1835-1839. 

Anth-e  Bienvenue  Roman 1839-1843. 

Alexander  Mouton 1843-1846. 

Isaac  Johnson 1846-1850. 

Joseph  Walker 1850-1853. 

Paul  O.  Hebert 1853-1856. 

Robert  Charles  Wickliffe 1856-1860. 

Thomas  Overton  Moore 1860-1864. 

Gen.  C.  F.  Shipley,  :\IiHtary  Governor 1862-1864. 

Henry  Watkins  Allen.  Under  Confederate 

Government 1864. 

Michael  Hahn.  Under  Federal  (iovernmcnt    .1864. 
James  Madison  Wells.  President  of  the 

Senate,  Acting  Governor 1864-1866. 

James  Madison  Wells 1866-1867. 

Benjamin  F.  Flanders,  Under  Militarv 

Authority ' 1867-1868. 

Joshua  Baker,  Under  .Militarv  Authoi-ily.  .    .1868. 

Henry  Clay  Warmoth .' 1868-1873. 

John  McEnerv  (Counted  out  bv  the  Return- 
ing Board)." ". 1873. 

P.  B.  S.  Pinch) )ack,  Lieutenant  (ioverno;, 

Acting  Governor .  1873. 

William  Pitt  Kellogg,  Go\'ernor  de  .Iiu'e.  .  .    ,1873-1877 

Francis  T.  Nicholls'. 1877-1879. 

Louis  Alfred  Wiltz,  (Died  in  Ofhce) 1880-1881. 

Samuel  Douglas  McEnery,  Lieutenant  Go\  • 

ernor.  Succeeded  him  as  Governor 1881-1884. 

Samuel  Douglas  McEnerv 1884-1888. 

Francis  T.  Nicholls.  .  .  .  ." 1888-1892. 

Murphv  J.  Foster 1892-1900. 

W.  W.' Heard 1900-1904. 

Newton  C.  Blanchard 1 904-1  <H)8. 

22 


UCSB  118«»1W 


